Knock-down cardboard display cradle



Nov. 15, 1955 A. SCHULZ ET AL 2,723,8Z@

KNOCK-DOWN CARDBOARD DISPLAY CRADLE Filed July 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR S 44 1-??50 fC/IUL z Jo /v wuzi/vfcu 15, 1955 A. SCHULZ ETAL 2,?2,

KNOCK-DOWN CARDBOARD DISPLAY CRADLE Filed July 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ALFEED fit Jbh/N Wu Nov. 15, 1955 A. SCHULZ ET AL 2,

KNOCK-DOWN CARDBOARD DISPLAY CRADLE Filed July 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR-5 AIL FREQ {ac/ um z, d aw/v WZIEAVfC/I United States PatentO 2,723,820 KNOCK-DOWN CARDBOARD DISPLAY CRADLE Alfred Schulz, New York, N. Y., and John Wuensch, Jersey City, N. J., assignors to Einson-Freemau Co.,Inc., Long Island City, N. Y.,.a corporation of Delaware Application July 22, 1943, Serial No. 40,108 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-174) 21 and the point 25 at which the edge portion 14 joins the edge portion 16.

Medially through the center of the blank there is a fold line 26 extending from the point 27 on the edge 10 to the point 28 midway along the cut 17. Another fold line 29 extends from the point 28 to the point 30 at which the oblique edge portions 15 and 16 meet.

The region of the blank between the fold line 26 and the edge 11 is one of two rear panels which we have designated by the reference numeral 31. The other panel is designated 32. These two rear panels are hingedly connected along the line 26. When the device is set up, they assume upright positions with the hinge line 26 toward the rear, as shown in Fig. 2. In this set-up condition, support for the device is afforded by the aligned edge portions 13 and 14 of the lower edges 17a provided by the cut 17.

bottle or bottle-like article, intended for use on store counters, in store windows, and the like.

Our invention aims, more specifically, to provide a device of unusually simple structural character, capable of formation from a single blank of fiat cardboard stock, easy to adjust between knocked-down and set-up conditions, attractive in appearance, and staunchly stable.

We achieve these general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the several ways illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. I adjusted into set-up condition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one way in which the device of Figs. 1 and 2 may be collapsed or knocked down;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a slightly modified construction, shown in set-up condition;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 4 shown in another optional relationship of parts;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another modification;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the device of Fig. 7 in set-up condition; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-,-9 of Fig. 8. v

In constructing the device illustrated in Figs. 1-3, we prefer to start with a single blank of cardboard or equiv- Jalent inexpensive sheet material ,and to impart contours to it substantially as shown-inFig: 1-. The blank has a longitudinal edge 10 and two' side edges 11' and 12. Opposite the edge 10 are aligned edge portions 13 and 14 which extend inwardly for a slight distance from the edges 11 and 12, respectively. Between the edge portions 13 and 14 the edge of the blank is out along the symmetrical oblique lines 15 and 16.

The blank is also cut throughalong the line 17.,which is aligned with the edge portions 13 and 14. Extending into the blank from the ends of the cut 17 are substantially parallel cuts 18 and 19. At the ends of the latter, they preferably curve or diverge outwardly as shown, the cuts terminating at the points 20 and 21 respectively.

In addition to the contours described, and the cuts which extend entirely through the blank, the blank is provided with crease or fold lines as follows: Extending from the point 20 to the point 22 where the edge portion 13 joins the edge portion 15, there is a fold line 23. A similar fold line 24 extends between the point Similarly, that portion of the blank which is bounded by the fold line 23, the cuts 18 and 17, the fold line 29, and the edge portion 15, constitutes a substantially L-shaped panel 33. The stem of the L lies between the fold 23 and the edge portion 18b produced by the cut 18. The base of the L is defined by the edge 15, the fold 29, and part of the edge 17b produced by the cut 17. The panel 33 is in hinged relation to the rear panel 31 along the oblique fold line 23. Similarly, there is a symmetrically positioned panel 34, substantially L- shaped, bounded by the fold line 24, the cuts 19 and 17, the fold line 29, and the edge portion 16. The stem of this L-shaped panel lies between the fold 24 and the edge 19b produced by the cut 19. The base of the L is defined by the edge 16, the fold 29, and the other part of the edge 17b. This panel is hinged to the rear panel 32 along the line 24 which lies along the outer edge of the L stem. As shown in the drawings, the fold or hinge lines 23 and 24 converge upwardly. The L- shaped panels 33 and 34 are hinged to each other along the line 29.

The fold or crease lines of the blank are of such character that when the device is adjusted into set-up condition, as shown in Fig. 2, the parts will assume the relative positions shown. The rear hingedly connected upright panels 31 and 32 diverge forwardly. On the other hand, the front L-shaped panels 33 and 34 diverge rearwardly. The device rests upon the aligned edges 13, 14, and 17a, also upon the edges 15 and 16.

In its set-up condition, the edges 17b lie in a plane which slants rearwardly downward. These edges define a support for the bottom face of a rearwardly leaning bottle which is indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. Additional support for this bottle is afforded by the edges 18b and 1%, these being the inner edges of theL stems, respectively.

The upper part of the bottle may rest within the angle between the panels 31 and 32, as indicated.

It will thus be observed that the manufacture of the device is extremely simple, involving nothing more than the suitable cutting, shaping and creasing or scoring of a single blank of cardboard. If the front face of the cardboard is to be embellished by lithography or other ornamentation or advertising matter, this is accomplished before the cutting and scoring operations, as will be creation of a multiple device, as indicated in Figs. 4, and 6. A continuous length of cardboard or the like, which may, if desired, be a single blank, is bounded by the end edges 35 and 36, and is provided with spaced hinge lines 37, 38 and 39. The structure between the edge 35 and the hinge line 37, designated by the reference letter A, is identical with the structure hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 1 3. Another such complete structure is designated B and lies between the hinge lines 37 and 38. Two other complete structures C and D lie between the hinges 3S and 39, and between the hinge 39 and the edge 36. The device may be collapsed as indicated in Fig. 3, the successive rear panels lying one above the other in accordion fashion.

When the device is set up as shown in Figs. 4- and 5, it affords an attractive support for a plurality of bottles or the like. One of the advantages of this structure lies in the fact that the several parts of the device need not necessarily be in straight side-by-side arrangement, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but may, if desired, be arranged along an are, either concave or convex. In an extreme adjustment of the parts, as shown in Fig. 6, the four devices A, B, C and D are arranged in radiating relationship. The versatility of the structure is thus apparent, and it will be understood that fewer or more than the four devices shown may be hingedly connected in a single multiple-bottle-snpporting structure, if desired.

In Figs. 79 we have shown a modified structure which differs from that of Figs. 1-3 in a few respects. It consists, as before, of the rear panels 40 and 41 hingedly connected at 42, and of the L-shaped panels 43 and 44 hingedly connected at 45 and hinged to the panels 40 and 41, respectively, along the upwardly converging fold lines 46 and 47. When the device is set up, the panels 43 and 44 converge toward the front, and the edges 48 lie in a plane slanting rearwardly downward and affording support for the bottom face of a bottle, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines.

To brace the structure, we have shown the possibility of hinging to the panel 43 along its bottom edge 49, a bracing panel 50 which is so shaped that when it is swung rearwardly (Fig. 9) a locking tab 51 is adapted to enter into engagement with a cooperative slot 52 extending across the rear hinge line 42.

It will also be observed that in Figs. 7-9 the inner edges of the L stems, produced by the cuts 53 and 54, are not accurately parallel but converge slightly. This may be a desirable arrangement under certain circumstances. Also, the rear panels are cut out as indicated at 55 to afford better support for the rearwardly leaning bottle.

Obviously, if desired, the structure of Figs. 79, can be duplicated, and the several devices hinged together to form a multiple structure, as hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 4-6.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may readily make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knock-down cardboard display cradle comprising a blank having side edges and bottom and top edges and having a substantially horizontal cut above said bottom edge and two substantially vertical cuts extending upwardly from the ends of the horizontal cut to points below the top edge of the blank, a substantially vertical fold line extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the blank and intersecting said horizontal cut, a pair of additional fold lines extending divergently downward from the tops of the vertical cuts to the bottom edge of the blank, the portion of the blank between said cuts being adapted to be moved rearwardly to a cradle supporting position with its bottom edge resting on a support and its fold line to the rear, the L-shaped portions of the blank surrounding said cuts and between said additional fold lines being adapted to be moved forwardly to a position wherein the cut-intersecting fold line is to the front and the cut-defined edges are sloped rearwardly to support an article thereon.

2. The combination with a knock-down cardboard display cradle as set forth in claim 1, of an identically-constructed second display cradle arranged alongside the first with the adjacent side edges of said blanks in hingedly connected relation.

3. A knock-down cardboard display cradle comprising a substantially rectangular blank having bottom and top edges and having a substantially horizontal cut above said bottom edge and two substantially vertical cuts extending upwardly from the ends of the horizontal cut to points below the top edge of the blank, an inverted isosceles triangular shaped extension on the bottom edge of said blank, a substantially vertical fold line extending from the top edge to the apex of said extension and intersecting said horizontal cut, a pair of additional fold lines extending divergently downward from the tops of the vertical cuts to the bottom edge of the blank, a bracing panel hinged to one of the outer edges of said triangular extension, the portion of the blank between said cuts being adapted to be moved rearwardly to a cradle supporting position with its fold line to the rear, the L-shaped portions of the blank surrounding said cuts and between said additional fold lines being adapted to be moved forwardly to a position wherein the cut-intersecting fold line is to the front and the cut-defined edges are sloped rearwardly to support an article thereon, said bracing panel being foldable rearwardly to engage the rearwardly moved portion of the blank and thereby brace the cradle in set-up condition.

4. A knock-down cardboard display cradle as set forth in claim 3, said bracing panel being provided with a locking tab and the blank being provided with a slot with which said tab engages when the cradle is set up.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,239 Prigge Dec. 8, 1914 1,517,067 Homecker Nov. 25, 1924 1,678,967 Wilkinson July 31, 1928 1,698,437 Jackson Jan. 8, 1929 2,002,493 Einson May 28, 1935 2,021,018 Paige Nov. 12, 1935 2,059,823 Saunderhauf Nov. 3, 1936 2,084,635 Friedrich et a1. June 22, 1937 2,102,982 Taylor Dec. 21, 1937 2,265,679 Saunderhauf Dec. 9, 1941 

